Societies Imprisoned by Prisons

I traveled around the world this past winter. During my travels I was drawn to prisons in different countries and visited two famous ones that no longer house prisoners. The first was Robben Island in South Africa. It is well known, because Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for over 25 years. The other, Freemantle Prison in Australia is not as well known, but was used continuously as a place of incarceration and punishment for 136 years

Both of these prisons share a history of torture and brutality that was carried out in ways unimaginable to most of us. I examined historical documents that bear witness to inhumane policies and practices that were carried out in the name of their “civilized nations.” Prisoners, including those who were political prisoners at Robben Island, were warehoused, starved, beaten, killed, and driven mad by practices employed and sanctioned by both countries.

Ironically, Robben and Freemantle are now museums that serve as stark reminders of the cruelty that took place within their walls; yet both of their host countries fail to indict the large-scale use of imprisonment, which usually allows such cruelty to occur. In fact they celebrate it through printed promotional materials and souvenir gift shops that market such items as convict dolls, toy handcuffs, and hanging nooses.

From my perspective, imprisonment and other criminal justice policies that harm individuals and destroy families are cruel and inhumane. While many countries, including the United States, are more enlightened about the evils of certain brutal penal policies and practices, they continue to rely heavily upon incarceration to address the problem of crime. For some, imprisonment may possess some retributive value. But, that does not deter crime or promote public safety; it only makes us more vindictive and irrational in our search for effective solutions.

While visiting Robben, Freemantle, and other prison sites, I learned of Governor Cuomo’s plan to close some of New York’s prisons. While his proposal may be seen as basically a cost-saving measure, his statement that prisons should not serve as a jobs program provides hope that he will be open to the idea of a comprehensive review of the state’s criminal justice policy, including imprisonment. I applauded his early leadership and direction on the issue of prison closings. Let’s hope he does the right thing on this issue. There exist many creative alternatives to incarceration such as restorative justice, restitution, specialized courts, and community treatment and group homes, to name a few.

Robben and Freemantle should also serve as a reminder that we don’t need prisons in our lives, effective alternatives already exist and we have the capacity to create more. Let us now move in the direction of thoroughly examining the state’s criminal justice policy.

7 Responses

Sure,,, I can certainly see Charlie Manson getting better through arts & Crafts Hour at the YMCA,,,, Same with Al Quieda operatives,,, All that they need might be a big hug and a pat on the head… Now,, Would it be too much to ask them to write 100 times on the chalkboard ” I WILL NOT BLOW UP AMERICANS AGAIN”…Just curious because I really want to embrace your your policy Alice and if this is too harsh we won’t have them do it… We wouldn’t want the group home to get a bad rap as being too tough…

Prison time, the way prisons are now, is counter productive. Never made sense to take a “law breaker”, a bad one at that, if he/she got caught, and send them to an institution that will give them the skills to break the law more effectively. I’m not even getting into the economic issues that decreases options to some, but finding a way that will help stop crime gets my vote…I say block the retribution approach & go for the cure.

I have posed this question before on this blog, but received no answer. If there are no (or significantly fewer) prisons, what can we do to protect society from dangerous, violent criminals? I agree that our prison system needs reform, but it seems to me that it would be vital to address the issue of public safety before making any changes.

Not my writing, but a cut and paste from someone talking about related issues:

“As far as the imbalance of races in jail, the system is broken, and with those who are born without privilege, or the ability to have a stable support system, sometimes crime is where people turn, regardless again of color. The system is so very broken, the same education, and support, should be available to every child, the same opportunities. While in jail, education, and a viable alternative to what ended them up there, psychological help where it’s needed… The list goes on. Its grassroots efforts to make a difference that change it. That’s why grassroots is SO important and vital. Things can change, if people work together. It’s division that destroys any effort, and I see infighting far too often.

Prison isn’t the answer to any problem, at all. In prison, people are treated the way animals are (mis)treated. Some resort to behaving like stressed animals too. Trapped in cells they refuse food, make messes with feces. It’s all wrong, and without some kind of solution it doesn’t change. If the excuse is “I grew up like this”, then the effort starts in schools. No child is born to do harm to another, no child is born to be no better than a drug dealer, or prostitute. No child should ever have to feel like a gang is their only chance at family. Start there, break the chain, and build stronger families and communities. People used to say “It takes a village” only now, those villages don’t exist, those single mothers work 3 jobs to feed their kids, they can’t make sure homework is done, they can’t mentor, they can’t be there. The village is too busy with everything else, and children are left to figure it out. They do what they see because it’s all they know. Give them something better to know”.

prisons are money makers and life breakers. I had the nightmare of woerking at a local county jail, where we abused the prisoners worse than the inmates in abu grahib and Cuba and they were americans charged with minor crimes. I can remember an inmate being pepper sprayed for getting drugs from his girlfriend and the Sgt saying shove that ni**ers head in the toilet with the piss and Sh*t he is. The sgt took the drugs and stuck them in his pocket and smoked the weed in the parking lot bosting how he got the drugs